Police beat

By Diane Brown
Facilities and Operations

DPS looking for armed robbers
As of the Record's Friday publishing deadline, officers with the Department
of Public Safety (DPS) still were looking for two suspects in connection
with a series of armed robberies on North Campus. A reward of up to $1,000
is available for information leading to the arrest and convictions of
the robbery perpetrators by calling the University's anonymous tip line
at (800) 863-1355.

Four robberies were reported Dec. 9 between 8
and 8:45 p.m. near Cram Circle, between Bishop
Street and Hubbard Road. An additional robbery was
reported the previous night around 11 p.m. near
the footpath on the south side of Bursley Hall. A
large black semi-automatic handgun and a knife
reportedly were held by the suspects as they politely
asked for money. No injuries were sustained in any of
the incidents.

One suspect is described as a white male, 15-18 years old, 5 feet
7 inches-5 feet 8 inches tall, and 200-230 pounds. He was seen
wearing a dark blue jacket with a hood or dark hat. The other is a Black
male, 13-16 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 130 pounds, with
light complexion and short, black hair. He was seen wearing a dark blue
or black hooded jacket.

If anyone has information pertaining to these crime alerts, call DPS
immediately at (734) 763-1131, or call 911 and ask to be connected with
DPS. If anyone is confronted by a suspicious person or robbed on campus,
find the nearest emergency blue light phone and lift the receiver. DPS
will send an officer to the location immediately even if the caller doesn't
speak.

Home invasion investigation continues
Officers continue to investigate several home invasions that were reported
Nov. 17 in Bursley Hall and East Quad. DPS issued a crime alert after
four Bursley residents reported property stolen from their unlocked rooms
while they slept. No suspect description was released.

In the East Quad incident, a resident
awoke around 4:30 a.m. Nov. 17 to find four
college-age white males in his room, reportedly trying to
take his television. Two of the suspects were reported
to be about 6 feet 3 inches tall, and the other two
about 5 feet 10 inches. No other physical description
was released.

Residents are encouraged to keep their room doors locked at all times,
especially when they are sleeping or have left their rooms.

Mental exam ordered for chemical suspect
Judge Julie Creal Goodridge ordered Daniel Lexington, 45, of Ann Arbor,
to complete a mental competency evaluation at his Dec. 4 preliminary exam.
Lexington has been charged with larceny in a building, larceny under false
pretenses and trespass after he allegedly took several chemicals from
laboratories in the Medical Science II building Nov. 20. Lexington, who
is not affiliated with the University, is scheduled to return to court
Feb. 5.

Suspect charged in Media Union thefts
Christopher Cicchelli, 17, of Ann Arbor, remains in jail after he waived
his preliminary exam Dec. 4 in 15th District Court. He is charged with
larceny in a building and two trespass counts connected with three thefts
Nov. 21 at the Media Union. Five students reported two book bags, a jacket
and a cell phone were among items stolen within minutes of each other.
A witness provided police officers with a strong description that led
them to Cicchelli, who was standing near a U-M bus stop. Cicchelli's pre-trial
conference is scheduled for Jan. 23.